I saw on the club website where you were planning a March Run to the Hershey plant, but that they no longer offer tours due to security reasons. An alternative idea: The Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield. They have a great tour, plus shopping, cafe and it's close to Hiway 12 to and from Napa, which is a fun road to drive.

 

I would be interested in the Jelly Belly factory a nice road to take would be 128 out of Winters around the lake to the factory. Think about it.

 

this sounds fun, ill watch for updates!!

 

Hi, my names Joe and I'm a recovering junk-food'oholich can I go to that one?

 

One problem there is no production going on on weekends so you get to look at an empty plant with no candy flying by for 20 min. Good idea though , it was the first thing the wife said after we talked to Hershey. We are thinking about a run towards the south. Next month is a Napa run . Larry

 

you can always do the Budweiser plant if they are producing that weekend.

 

Oooh, beer & sugar, my favorites. I want to go too, except for one minor problem: I don't own a mini (yet). Can we postpone the beer and sugar activities until May when my Mini arrives?

PS: Anybody want to buy my Audi?

 

Haha wrong forum for that, doubt someone who owns a Mini would like to swap it for an Audi

If we do the Jellybelly, there better be a flavor for each of our mini colors! Mmm...dark silver....

 

Well the chocolate factory is closed to the public, Jelly Belly does not run the plant on weekends so we are heading south to the Pinnacles National Monument. We will leave Hollister around 9am on 3-19-05 Saturday. Going to prerun the route and make sure the roads ok. We won't be going the short way. After the ride we will have a picnic lunch at the park. More info soon.

 

Larry,
Now you're in my part of the country ...
What do you want to know-
Where do you want to go-
How long a drive do you want to take-
Twisty, straight or combination-

Let me help you out ...

Tim

 

How about Pinnacles and then Mt Hamilton? Twisty roads, exceptional vistas and a real functional observatory too. I was told James Lick is buried in the chamber beneath the telescope and at the centerpoint of the rotunda. Is that true? Kinda creepy.

Have a great ride.

 

A few weeks back NorCal MINIs took the twisties up to Mt. Hamilton. Great run and fun.

 

Ya, I think he is burried beneth the telescope in the main building. Went on a tour there last year, definately a neat place.

 

The run info is up on NORCAL MINIs site. Meet up at the McDonalds in Hollister on San Felipe Rd. just south of where hwy25 runs into it. A ride to the Pinnacles for a picnic and then Panoche Rd (if the county clears the road in time). Anyone coming from the central valley can meet me at the Starbucks in Tracy at 11th and Corral Hollow Rd (Safeway lot). We will leave AT 730am. LarryP

 

Bring your radios and a lunch you can carry.

 

Larry - what time are you meeting at McD? I'll pass the word around to some of the people down here that might not be on NAM. We must have a half dozen Coopers in town.

 

Larry,have you already done the pre-run for March ride?I may be able to do that with you,or just do the ride with group on Mar.19th.I have follow up DR. appt. today and will know more about my time off. GLenn

 

We wil meet up at 9am. Hi Glen, Tami and I went down there while everyone else was in sin city. Checked out some awesome roads. the problem was most of them where blocked 15 miles in. Panoche is a road made for us and the county already started clearing it so it wins it goes out around 50 miles to 5 then you can head north. Bring flashlights if you plan on hitting the caves.

 

What happens if weather is BAD?FORECAST calls for rain that weekend..Glenn

 

For those coming south on 101 and taking Hwy 25 into town - Please be careful going over the first set of railroad tracks - it'll take your suspension out! Swing wide to the right and you'll be OK.

After meeting at McDonalds I would suggest going south on San Felipe / San Benito St., past the high school football field, to the very end - where it meets Union. Go right on Union and then the first left is Cienega. You can take Cienega around back to Hwy 25, turn right and head to the Pinnacles. Cienega is a road made for Coopers ... it has lots of turns and a few good straight aways. I drove it this afternoon and had a great time.

 

Thats an option, waiting to make the final call on the exact route until I check with the county road dept friday. Rain? It never stopped us before. Just kidding. This area can be impacted by rain. I'll make a decision Friday afternoon after I check the roads and radar ,if the roads are open we go.

 

We have a good group signed up for saturday so we will stick with the planned run. Anyone know of a good pizza place to go to after the run in the south for dinner? Are the south bay people going to meet at Valco shopping center at around 730am and convoy together? EASTBAY MINI has stepped up to the plate again with some cool raffle prizes. A alarm system, aux audio hookup, a backpack, and a toy convertible. Bring your rain gear.

 

Can meet at Valco at 7:30 am. Anyone else? Will be the first time out to Pinnicales for me.

 

I thought the same thing when I checked out the area a couple off weeks ago. Would you like to take the point on the way out of town?

 

I think I can meet you at Valco at 7:30 am.

*It will be the first time for me too

Dennis